Taken aback by the unexpected topic, Sephia inquired,
“It’s odd. I was under the impression that they arrived near the capital almost a month ago.”
“You’re correct, Empress. However, they’ve still not been allowed into the capital. The Emperor has ordered them to stand by.”
“A stand-by order?”
Did that mean the troops were halted right outside the capital? It was a baffling command.
The duchess shared the sentiment, her expression sour.
“I’m not sure why either, but it’s the first time I’ve seen national heroes treated this way.”
The other ladies nodded in agreement. It seemed they had no further information.
“Thank you for letting me know,” Sephia said, parting ways with them.
Heading back to her quarters, Sephia asked her guard, Jacob, about the matter.
“Jacob, is what the ladies said true?”
He looked slightly troubled but soon nodded.
“They are still waiting outside the capital.”
This confirmation made Sephia’s headache worsen.
‘The victory celebration is just a week away.’
A stand-by order meant waiting indefinitely for further instructions, unable to move until then. Without nearby lodging, camping was the default.
She hadn’t imagined the Extermination Troop suffering like this.
It was the Emperor’s prerogative to allow them into the capital, not hers.
Did Demios want the celebration’s heroes to be absent?
It was hard to comprehend treating those who sacrificed for the empire in such a manner, regardless of personal feelings.
‘I need to see Demios.’
Reaching the entrance to her room, Sephia was about to request a meeting with the Emperor when the door to her chamber unexpectedly opened.
“Lemodi, my maid?”
Lemodi looked troubled.
“Empress, the Emperor is waiting for you.”
Demios? Surprised, Sephia followed Lemodi inside.
Demios stood rigidly by a large sofa, as if nailed to the spot.
How long had he been waiting like that?
“Why aren’t you seated, Your Majesty?” Sephia asked, noticing his stiff posture.
Demios turned towards her, his movements wooden, his red eyes fiercely glaring.
“What’s the matter?”
Seeing him so agitated was unusual, prompting her to ask.
Demios finally spoke, “…Titié said she saw you at the secret lake with another man.”
Sephia had momentarily forgotten about the incident at the lake.
‘Titié must have told him about it.’
Was he here to make a fuss about her supposedly insulting Titié, or to inquire about who made Titié cry?
‘Perhaps it’s a relief.’
She knew nothing about Roxan to inform Demios.
However, Demios’s next words were completely unexpected.
“What relationship do you have with that man at the lake? Were you two having a secret rendezvous before Titié caught you?”
Sephia was dumbstruck by the absurdity of his accusation. What had Titié possibly told him to lead his thoughts in that direction?
“He’s just a friend.”
“……Hah.”
Despite her clarification, Demios only responded with a scoff.
“A friend in this beast-ridden place? And between a male and a female, no less. That’s surprising.”
It was a clear derogatory comment. Realizing Demios was beyond reason, Sephia hardened her expression.
“I can have male friends. Maybe you can’t.”
His eyebrows twitched at her retort targeting his consort. Before he could raise his voice, Sephia changed the subject.
“It’s actually good timing. I needed to speak with you.”
He seemed slightly more relaxed at her words.
“……About what?”
Relieved he was willing to listen, she hurried to the point.
“Please rescind the standby order for the Extermination Troop.”
His expression twisted again at her request.
“The Empress shouldn’t involve herself in such matters.”
“No. They are my people as much as they are yours. Is there a clear reason for the standby order, other than personal feelings?”
As the Empress of the Therianthropic Empire, Sephia had always cared for her people, regardless of their species.
She advised him earnestly.
“Whatever feelings you may have towards Duke Leopold, those men are heroes who have sacrificed everything for the empire. Acknowledging that would prevent further talk.”
Her advice was genuine. But he wouldn’t accept it.
“……Be careful with your words.”
His voice was harsh, like scraping metal.
In the still room, with all windows closed, Demios’ silver hair fluttered slightly—a sign of his impending transformation.
‘Drodyans are the wolves of the Goddess.’
Like all Therianthropes, the royal family struggled to control their full beast form when enraged.
Sephia had only seen Demios’ true form in her early childhood. The fully grown Emperor would be much more formidable.
It was a tense moment.
Moose, Sephia’s guard, tensed, ready to draw his sword. But he’d be no match if Demios transformed.
But the worst didn’t happen.
“……Do as you wish.”
Demios took deep breaths, calming himself down, his fierce gaze softening.
Leaving the room, he passed Sephia, leaving her to wonder about his behavior.
Her body, momentarily frozen in shock, slowly regained movement. Her maids rushed in, supporting her to the sofa.
“Empress, are you alright?”
“What happened?”
The maids, too, were surprised by Demios’ abrupt departure.
Unable to understand his thoughts, Sephia focused on the important outcome.
‘We got the permission.’
She could now open the capital gates for the Extermination Troop.
Still unwinding from the tension, she rose and dispatched an official document with her seal.
“Send a messenger to the East Gate of the capital immediately to allow the Extermination Troop entry. They should pass through the capital and come directly to the Imperial Palace. I, as the Empress, will provide them with accommodation, and all expenses will be covered by the Imperial Treasury.”
“Understood.”
The Extermination Troop couldn’t wait any longer; the gates had to be opened today. Sephia watched the departing messenger with a complex gaze, holding the authorization in her hand.
‘I just hope there won’t be any further trouble.’
Though the gate opening was assured, there should be no backlash. Worried, Sephia suddenly thought of Roxan.
‘But how did Roxan manage to enter?’
Despite the day turning to dusk, she found no answer.
That night, Sephia received news that the gate had been opened for the Extermination Troop.
As the evening deepened and the sunset intensified, a red-haired knight named Groar raced towards the camp.
“The gate’s open! Finally, that damn permission came through!”
His booming voice echoed in front of the East Gate.
The knights, who had been waiting to enter the capital, started to murmur.
“Chief Commander, is it true the East Gate has been opened?”
Viltman, the Second Knight Commander, asked incredulously.
His doubt was justified. Even after more than a fortnight since their arrival, the standby order had not been lifted.
The soldiers, eager to return to the capital after a long war, were suddenly filled with anger.
“Yes. Finally, the Emperor seems to have come to his senses.”
“……Chief Commander. If you talk like that even after entering the capital, you’ll be arrested for insulting the royal family before the Victory Celebration.”
Despite the warning laced with humor, Groar continued grumbling.
“Ah, let them arrest me. What does His Majesty know about the war to treat us so disrespectfully? There’s a limit to acting high and mighty just for pride.”
Viltman held back his response, agreeing with Groar’s passionate outburst.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
